POLITICIANS from the two major parties have criticised Victoria's
Australian of the Year Philip Wollen for his "odd views" on the dairy
industry.

The vegan merchant banker-turned-philanthropist was awarded the 2007
title last year for his work through his Winsome Constance Kindness
Trust.

Mr Wollen, who received an Order of Australia Medal in 2005, said the
dairy industry was cruel and dairy products were "bad for human
health, the atmosphere, and our dwindling water resources".

Labor's Martin Pakula and Liberal MP John Vogels united in a
bipartisan barrage on Mr Wollen and joined federal Agriculture
Minister Peter McGauran's call for Mr Wollen to apologise for his
"absurd" comments about the dairy industry or give back his award.
...
Mr Wollen made the comments in support of Animal Liberation Victoria's
Milk Sucks campaign, which urges Victorians to become vegans.

He said: "Apart from the cruelty inflicted on the cows and their
calves, dairy products are bad for human health, the atmosphere, and
our dwindling water resources.

"It takes as much water to grow one cow as it does to float a
battleship . . . every unsuspecting consumer is subsidising the
massive costs of a cruel, unnecessary and unsustainable industry."